Adolescent Substance Use: Do Catholic Schools Make a Difference?

25 Pages Posted: 19 Feb 2008

See all articles by Daniel Suryadarma

Daniel Suryadarma

Australian National University (ANU) - Arndt-Corden Department of Economics; SMERU Research Institute

Date Written: March 1, 2008

Abstract

The positive effect of Catholic schooling on academic success is widely recognised. In this paper, I investigate whether there are additional benefits to attending Catholic schools. Specifically, I look at whether adolescents attending Catholic high schools have lower smoking and drinking rates and, among those who are using those substances, whether the intensity is different compared to those attending non-Catholic schools. I find that attending Catholic schools reduce the probability to smoke, but not to consume alcohol. Overall, Catholic school students have a much higher likelihood to be neither drinking nor smoking. Among those who are smoking, Catholic school students consume fewer cigarettes, although there is no discernible difference among those who are drinking. Hence, beyond equipping students with superior academic ability, Catholic schools also deter substance use, especially cigarette.

Keywords: Catholic school, adolescent, tobacco, alcohol, Australia

JEL Classification: I10, I20, I21

Suggested Citation

Suryadarma, Daniel, Adolescent Substance Use: Do Catholic Schools Make a Difference? (March 1, 2008). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1094484 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1094484

Daniel Suryadarma (Contact Author)

Australian National University (ANU) - Arndt-Corden Department of Economics ( email )

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